Ark. House panel OKs limits on naming buildings

The House State Agencies Committee on Wednesday voted to approve the restriction, which would apply to any new public building, structure or facility — if at least half of the funding comes from the government.

An Arkansas House committee has advanced a proposal to prevent public buildings from being named after living elected officials until they have been out of office for at least ten years.

The House State Agencies Committee on Wednesday voted to approve the restriction, which would apply to any new public building, structure or facility — if at least half of the funding comes from the government. The measure exempts office-holders who are at least 75-years-old or were a prisoner of war.

Republican Rep. John Burris, the bill's sponsor, says the goal is to prevent politicians from using public funds to their advantage for future campaigns. He said the "cooling-off" period would also reduce the chance of state-funded facility being named after a politician who is later convicted of wrongdoing.